Birthday memories for needy created by Kiwanis Club of Wheaton

Gifts wrapped for the needy children served by HSP.Humanitarian Service Project

Patrick McGarry

The Kiwanis Club of Wheaton recently donated $300 this month to help the impoverished children of DuPage and Kane Counties served by the Humanitarian Service Project (HSP). With over two decades of continual donations, the Kiwanis Club of Wheaton helps to support the Children's Birthday Project, through which HSP provides needy children with birthday presents and party supplies for their child's special day.

Officially defined, "Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time", and the Kiwanis Club of Wheaton participates in a number of community- and children-centered projects. Among the club's initiatives are their "One Day" projects which aim to complete a community improvement project in a day. They also grant scholarships to local students who take part in charitable activities. Additionally, the club aims to complete 40-50 service projects every year. The Kiwanis Club of Wheaton takes their mission seriously and through their donation, HSP can continue to make happy birthday memories for needy children and their families in the communities of DuPage and Kane counties.

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The Children's Birthday Project serves over 900 impoverished children throughout DuPage and Kane between the ages of 3-11. Every year on the child's birthday they receive a "Birthday Box", which includes 6-10 new toys, 6 books, stuffed animals as well as party and school supplies. Every box ensures that each child will have a fun-filled and memorable birthday. Children served by the program also receive gifts at Christmas time through HSP's Christmas Offering. HSP also provides food for 150 and 100 of the neediest families enrolled in this program at different times of the year through their Christmas Offering and summertime Feed the Kids program.

About The Humanitarian Service Project

HSP's mission is to alleviate the pain and suffering that poverty creates in seniors and children living in DuPage and Kane Counties, Illinois. Last year during the Christmas Offering, 1,600 children received gifts and 150 impoverished families received three weeks of groceries, frozen meats, and fresh produce. With the Senior Citizen Project, HSP provides monthly food deliveries of 100 pounds including fresh produce, frozen meats, non-perishables, paper products and secret pal gifts to 123 low-income seniors. The Children's Birthday Project reaches the youngest underprivileged, making birthdays and Christmas truly memorable occasions for 900 children. Feed the Kids program provides 100 low-income families and 375 children with groceries and fresh produce worth $1,500 retail in total for the summer. HSP conducts an annual school supply drive, which sends supplies to the DuPage Back to School Fair in addition to furnishing schools and individual children with necessary supplies.